One of the most meaningful ways families can work together to make things better for our children is by serving on decision-making committees along with policy makers. Families as Allies is committed to preparing and supporting family leaders to be able to do this, and also partnering with state agencies and other groups to include families on committees and task forces.
Over the past three years, Families as Allies has trained over eighty parents and caregivers in the nationally recognized Serving on Groups leadership training. This training helps participants identify their leadership style, use effective communication skills and learn what types of decision-making groups best fit their skills and strengths.
Last week we began monthly coaching and support sessions for leadership training graduates. These sessions allow us to support family leaders, hear their concerns and gather data about their experiences.
It also will provide us a bridge to help state agencies and other partners to match committee opportunities that they have with parents and caregivers who are ready to serve. This is particularly important given that group participants told us that they had experienced some barriers in approaching state agencies about partnership opportunities. They also discussed the challenges that COVID has created and how these could be addressed.
We encourage our state partners to work with us to engage and recruit families to be on committees, especially those committees that are mandated to include consumer groups and/or people who are receiving services such as the Division of Medicaid’s Medical Care Advisory Committee, the State Mental Health Planning Council, and the Special Education Advisory Panel. As part of our coaching and support, we will also help group members understand the purpose of these groups and what the statutes say about how families should be involved in them.
